Functional traits
This article should be read in conjunction with the articles Functional groups, Biological Trait Analysis and Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and ecosystem function
Definition of Trait:
Any measurable characteristic of an individual organism, such as its shape (morphological), how it functions (physiological), or the timing of its life events (phenological).[1].
This is the common definition for Trait, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Definition of Functional trait:
Functional traits are measurable characteristics of organisms that influence their performance, including their effects on ecosystem processes and their responses to environmental conditions. Through these traits, organisms influence key ecosystem processes such as primary production, nutrient cycling, and decomposition.[2][1]
This is the common definition for Functional trait, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Definition of Biological trait:
A specific, measurable property of an organism (for example, present/absent or graded in intensity), usually studied at the individual level and compared across species. The term 'biological trait' is often used broadly to include all measurable organism characteristics, of which functional traits are a subset.[1].
This is the common definition for Biological trait, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Contents
Functional Diversity
Functional diversity describes the range, value, and distribution of functional traits within a community, and is often used as a trait-based measure of biodiversity. Functional diversity can be quantified in multiple ways, including measures such as functional richness, evenness, and divergence (see Measurements of biodiversity). It focuses on what species do—their ecological roles—rather than simply who they are.
Functional traits are a subset of biological traits that are directly linked to ecological roles and ecosystem processes. They help describe how species interact with their environment and with other species[3] and can be used as indicators to infer ecosystem functioning. Functional traits are often divided into response traits (how species respond to environmental change) and effect traits (how species influence ecosystem processes).
Examples of functional traits in phytoplankton include: [4][5]
- Body size (response)
- Shape (response)
- Tolerance to environmental conditions (response)
- Need for silica (Si) (response)
- Ability to move (effect)
- Ability to fix nitrogen (N-fixation) (effect)
In land plants, examples of functional traits are:[6][7]
- Growth rate (response)
- Nutrient requirements (response)
- Water uptake (effect)
Species with similar functional traits are often classified into functional groups, which are sets of species that share similar ecological roles. These groups are widely used to simplify and compare ecological communities by reducing continuous variation in traits into clusters of species with comparable functions.
Why Trait-Based Approaches Matter
Studying traits helps ecologists understand:
- How species coexist in the same environment
- How communities are structured
- How ecosystems respond to change
Trait-based approaches link ecological strategies, community assembly, and functional diversity, helping explain how species differences allow them to coexist[8][9]. Response traits such as feeding behavior, lifespan, body size, and mobility have been linked to how species distributions change under environmental stress, including:
Biological Trait Analysis (BTA)
Biological Trait Analysis (BTA) uses selected traits to measure functional diversity within ecological communities. BTA does not measure ecosystem functioning directly, but uses trait composition to infer potential ecosystem processes. However, choosing which traits to include is crucial; many traits are available, but not all are equally useful. The choice also depends on available data and the time and cost of analysis[17]
Some traits are directly linked to ecosystem processes, while others act as indirect indicators of ecological functioning.[18]
Because of this, trait selection should be done carefully. The traits chosen can strongly influence how communities are interpreted, so selecting the most informative traits is essential.[19]
Related articles
- Functional groups
- Biological Trait Analysis
- Functional diversity
- Measurements of biodiversity
- Marine Biodiversity
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Reiss, J., Bridle, J.R., Montoya, J.M. and Woodward, G. 2009. Emerging horizons in biodiversity and ecosystem functioning research. Trends Ecol. Evol., 24: 505-514
- ↑ Violle, C. et al. 2007. Let the concept of trait be functional! Oikos 116: 882–892
- ↑ Diaz, S. and Cabido, M. 2001. Vive la difference: plant functional diversity matters to ecosystem processes. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 16: 646-655
- ↑ Reynolds, C.S., Huszar, V., Kruk, C., Naselli-Flores, L. and Melo, S. 2002. Towards a functional classification of the freshwater phytoplankton. Journal of Plankton Research 24: 417–428
- ↑ Weithoff, G. 2003. The concept of ‘plant functional types’ and ‘functional diversity’ in lake phytoplankton – new understanding of phytoplankton ecology? Freshwater Biology 48: 1669–1675
- ↑ Walker, B.H. and Langridge, J.L. 2002. Measuring functional diversity in plant communities with mixed lifeforms: a problem of hard and soft attributes. Ecosystems 5: 529–538
- ↑ Barnett, A.J. and Beisner, B.E. 2007. Zooplankton biodiversity and lake tropic state: explanations invoking resource abundance and distribution. Ecology 88: 1675-1686
- ↑ Grime, J.P. 2006. Trait convergence and trait divergence in herbaceous plant communities: Mechanisms and consequences. J. Vegetation Science 17: 255-260
- ↑ Tilman, D. and Downing, J.A. 1994. Biodiversity and stability in grasslands. Nature 367: 363– 365
- ↑ Poore, G.C.B. and Kudenov, J.D. 1978. Benthos around an outfall of the Werribee sewage-treatment farm, Port Philip Bay, Victoria. Aust. J. Mar. Freshwater Res. 29: 157–167
- ↑ Grizzle, R.E. 1984. Pollution indicator species of macrobenthos in a coastal lagoon. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 18: 191–200
- ↑ Beukema, J.J., Flach, E.C., Dekker, R., and Starink. M. 1999. A long-term study of the recovery of the macrozoobenthos on large defaunated plots on a tidal flat in the Wadden Sea. J. Sea Res. 42: 235 –254
- ↑ Brown, B. and Wilson, W.H. 1997. The role of commercial digging of mudflats as an agent for change of infaunal intertidal populations. J Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 218: 49 –61
- ↑ Ramsay, K., Kaiser, M.J., and Hughes, R.N. 1998. Responses of benthic scavengers to fishing disturbance by towed gears in different habitats. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 224: 73 – 89
- ↑ Spencer, B.E., Kaiser, M.J., Edwards, D.B. 1998. Intertidal clam harvesting: benthic community change and recovery. Aquaculture Res. 29: 429 – 437
- ↑ Hall-Spencer, J.M., Froglia, C., Atkinson, R.J.A. and Moore, P.G. 1999. The impact of Rapido trawling for scallops, Pectenjacobaeus (L.), on the benthos of the Gulf of Venice. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 56: 111–124
- ↑ Gayraud, S., Statzner, B., Bady, P. and Haybach, A. 2003. Invertebrate traits for the biomonitoring of large European rivers: An initial assessment of alternative metrics. Freshwater Biology 48: 2045 – 2064
- ↑ Lavorel, S. and Garnier, E. 2002. Predicting changes in community composition and ecosystem function from plant traits: revisiting the Holy Grail. Func. Ecol. 16: 545–556
- ↑ Bremner, J., Rogers, S.I. and Frid, C.L.J. 2006. Matching biological traits to environmental conditions in marine benthic ecosystems. J. Mar. Syst. 60: 302–316
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